Throughout his two years as a Florida racing canine, Kevin the Greyt averaged 37 miles-per-hour and completed within the prime three in at the least half of his races. However that’s not how he earned the regal title on the finish of his title.

That was bestowed upon him by his adoptive mother, Alex Russell when he grew to become the College of Central Oklahoma’s first on-campus remedy canine.

“I knew he was destined for greatness as soon as he began working at UCO and I noticed him work together with college students,” Russell advised iHeartDogs.

Picture c/o Alex Russell, Fb/Kevin the Greyt

When Kevin was five-years-old, he retired from racing and was taken in by the Oklahoma-based rescue, Hounds of the Heartland. After a 12 months with a loving foster household, Russell and her husband adopted him in November 2016.

Because the Assistant Director of Well being Promotion at UCO’s Heart for Counseling and Wellbeing, Russell instantly acknowledged the canine’s potential for service. Inside six months, Kevin earned his remedy canine certification and commenced providing assist to the college’s college students and employees. He even has his personal ID badge.

Picture c/o Alex Russell, Fb/Kevin the Greyt

Collectively, Russell and Kevin are working to determine an on-campus remedy canine program at UCO modeled after the Pete’s Pet Posse Program at Oklahoma State. Like them, they hope to construct a staff of extremely skilled canine and handlers to enhance the bodily and emotional well being of the campus group.

When Kevin isn’t strolling the halls and courtyards of UCO, he’s dozing on his soft mattress in Russell’s workplace. On his off days, he enjoys going to the canine park, squeaking his squeaky toys, consuming peanut butter, doing zoomies all through the home, and naturally, napping.

“They’re often called the 45 mile-per-hour sofa potato,” Russell says of the Greyhound breed, “so should you’ve ever been round Kevin, he’s at all times chill.”

Picture c/o Alex Russell, Fb/Kevin the Greyt

But when a pupil is in want of his particular model of soothing remedy, they’ve solely to scratch his ears to evoke him. Kevin is a sucker for a superb ear scratch!

In his time at UCO, he has helped college students and school deal with points from easy faculty stress to panic assaults and the lack of family members. For Kevin the Greyt, it’s all in a day’s work.

Picture c/o Alex Russell, Fb/Kevin the Greyt

For Russell, the choice to undertake a retired racing Greyhound was a no brainer.

“They’re essentially the most quiet tempered canine you’ll find,” she stated. “They’re extra like members of the family than wild balls of vitality that brings chaos into the home. They’re additionally extremely good, candy, mild souls.”

When requested why folks ought to contemplate adopting a retired racer of their very own, Russell stated:

“As a result of they want us. As a result of they’re the very best. For those who’re searching for a canine that’s even tempered, that can be proud of simply spending time with you and your loved ones, they’re the canine for you.”

Picture c/o Alex Russell, Fb/Kevin the Greyt

Florida’s midterm election vote to ban Greyhound racing has left as many as 15,000 canine with unsure futures. The state’s 11 tracks will shut down progressively over the subsequent two years. Within the meantime, rescue teams throughout the nation – together with Hounds of the Heartland – are getting ready for an inflow of retired racers.

If you want to study extra about adopting or fostering one in every of these great household pets, go to Undertake-A-Greyhound.org. The positioning options an interactive map that will help you discover the closest Greyhound adoption group within the US, Canada, Europe or Australia.

Don’t overlook to comply with Kevin the Greyt on Fb, Twitter and Instagram!

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